"Any discussion about a strike or a work stoppage at this point is totally premature. It's way too early for anybody to be coming to that conclusion."

-- MLS Commissioner Don Garber on "difficult" negotiations between the league and the players union to hammer out a new collective bargaining agreement to replace the one that expires on Jan. 31. The players are reportedly looking for guaranteed contracts and the end to the current arrangement that allows them to be released before July 1 without having to be paid for a full season. And they want more freedom to negotiate with other teams rather than the current arrangement that requires one team to trade for the rights of a player even if he's been released by a club. (Toronto Star)